Drilling mechanism



De@ 16, M411.- `c. J. ANDERSON rAL 2,265,987

DRILLING MECHANISM- 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Junel 24, 939

mmk a im Q.

mi@ z5 Dec. 16, 1941.

C. J. ANDERSON ErAL DRILLING MECHANISM amo Dec. 16, 1941. c, J. ANDERSON mL v u 2,265,981

DRILLING MECHANISM yFiled June v24, 1939 4 sheets-Sheet s www y /aah -lenf-15 /32 l De 16, 1941. 1c. J. ANDERSON ETAL 2,255,987

DRILLING MECHANISM Filed June 24, 1959 4 Sheecs--Sheell 4 aga* Patented Dec. 16, 1941 BRHLLING MECHANSM' Application .lune 24, 1939, Serial No. 286,928

(Cl. Z55-22) 2 Claims.

This invention has to do generally with improvements in drilling mechanisms, particularly of the rotary type adaptable for drilling in mine and other underground workings, trenches and on dam faces and various surface locations.

In certain of its broad aspects, the'invention deals with drilling machines of the type ocmprising, in general, a body or frame mounted for angular adjustment, and on which is carried a relatively vertically movable head operated to advance or retract the drill` Heretofore, the general practice has been to support the drill rotating power unit or motor independently of the head, and to employ a relatively complicated drive for transmitting power from a stationary motor to the moving head or drill stem chuck carried by the head. This Yconventional construction not only complicates and increases the initial and maintenance costs of the machine, but it also limits to a comparatively great extent the convenience and ease of handling and operating the machine and its adaptability to drilling under limited circumstances and at various positions and angles.

One of our major objects is to provide an improved machine of the type generally described above, in which the drill rotating power unit is Y carried directly by the head so as to be movable therewith relative to the frame, and movable bodily with the entire frame supported parts as the machine is adjusted for various drilling angles. While broadly speaking, any suitable power unit, air or electric, may be employed, we prefer to use air motors because of their light weight, compactness and general adaptability from standpoints of performance as well as structural considerations, to this type of drill. A very compact and eiiicient head and motor assembly is provided by using a crosshead carrying at its center a rotatable drill rod chuck supporting tube, and mounting on the crosshead one or more air motors having simple lightweight gear connections with a gear carried by the tube. By this construction the weight of all the head supported parts is desirably reduced for shallow drilling, without saorice however of the potential and greater power required under other conditions.

Another feature oi the invention is the provision, in conjunction with the crosshead supported power unit, of iiuid pressure operated means for controllably actuating the advancing, or drilling, and retractive movements of the head assembly within relatively short or long distances of travel to suit the particular circumstances.

or flattened construction which has the advantage of making' it possible to drill close to a side wall or vertical surface, or in direct proximity to a column on which the machine is supported, where anchorage is not available at the outside of the area being worked.V

The invention has a further and particularly distinctive feature with respect to the crosshead mounting whereby the head audits supported parts, including the drill rod chuck, air motors and piston and cylinder assemblies, may be selectively operated in reversed vertical positions, and the positions quickly changed by simple manipulations. The reversibility of the head assembly makes it possible to gain positional advantagesV relative to the work, and to facilitate changing of drill rod sections within limited space in the direction of the rod. Also it permits maintaining operations at either position of the head with the drill rotating in a given direction, without havin-g to reverse the direction of rotation of the power source.

All the above mentioned features of the invention, as well as various additional objects and details, will be understood most readily and to better advantage from the following description of a typical and illustrative machine embodying .theV invention.V Reference is lhad throughout the description to the accompanying y drawings, in which: y

Fig. 1 is a iront elevation viewoi the machine; Fig. 2 is a cross section on line 2-2 ofFig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 3 3 of Fig. 1,

the piston however being advanced to the end of its stroke; v

Fig. 4 is a section on line'-t of Fig.V 1; Fig. 5 is a view, partly diagram-matic, showing the 'machine in inverted position, and its ccnnections with a pressure fluid supply source; Y

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary View showing the frame of the machine in its normal vertical position,

but with the head assembly inverted;

Fig. 7 illustrates an attachment for mounting the machine on a grout pipe;

Fig. 8 shows a variational form of the invention; Y

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary cross section on line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary section on line Ill-IQ of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 1l isa cross section on line I I-I I of Fig. S.

Referring first to Fig. l ofthe drawings, the machine comprises a frame, generally indicated at I0, including a base II, recessed at I2, see Fig. 2, to pass the drill rod` I3, also a pair of vertically extending guide tubes I4, anda transverse plate I5. The frame I and its supported parts are mounted for vertical andangular adjustment on a suitable support, shown typically as a tubular column I6 having a footing -I'Fl Vadjustable by screw I8 to bring the head I3 of the column tightly against a lceiling or other overhead surface to anchor the column securely in place. The machine proper is supported on thefcolumn -by a bracket-2i) .fastened to theback surfaceoi the plate -I15 by :bolt 21, and secured Ato the-column I -by -a-spliticlamp 22. As will be apparent, the clamp lpermits placement "of the Ymachine at any vertical-position on the column, `while the bolt connection S2Ibetween bracket l!) 'and-the plate 'I5 provides a pivotal .adjustment whereby the machine may be maintained at any drilling angle withina i360" range.

Mounted-on the iframe Iii is a vertically Vmov- 'ableand inverted head assembly generally indicated-at 23,-comprising a-pair of elongated crossheads 52'4 and 25 movable vertically on the guide tubes M and supporting the air motors 325 and the power transmission tothe drill rod I3. The crossheads -24and '25 consist o'f sectionsZlla, 241), 'and 25a, 25h respectively, fbe'tween which the var- =ious Aparts directly supported iby the crossheads lare'clampedby tightening bolts -2'I and 28 which interconnect the sections. The ends of both 'crossheads are v'clamped to a pair fof sleeves 29 that slide longitudinallyon the guide tubes I4.

The drill trod I3 Lis rotated byachuck connection 3D'with an open end drive .tube 3`I positioned in axial :alinement with the 'center of the frame 'and .head assembly, :the drilling rod being fed Fthrou'gh "the tube, Aand advancedl toward the work -by movement v'of the head -23 in -that direction. fAs best illustrated in Fig. e, the rotatable drive .tub'e 3l is journaled on roller bearings@ and 33 withina'housing 34clamped between the sections of the crossheads 24 tand 25,1the upper and lower ,ends of the housing 34 havingclosures and 3S `carrying suitable "seal or .packing rings 31 engaging sleeve .38 .and the upset portionof the tube to exclude .dirt and moisture v.from the bearings. Directly .abovesleeve ,38 the tube 3l carriesa spur .gear 40 secured thereto by `key 4I and clamped .against the upper end of .the s1eeve,.by nuts 42 'threaded on the tube. Tube 3'! .and the drill rod .I 3.are driven `by `air motors '25 through gears 43 carried on the vertical shafts of the motors and meshing with gear 4). From the Aforegoing it will be seen that the motors, vpower transmission 'and -driving connection with the drillrod I3, all are supported by and movable with the `crosshead assembly relative 'to the frame, Vand at-all verti- 1cala-ndl angularp'os'itionsof the machine.

The'head '23-'isoperat`ed by a `pair` of pistonand cylinder assemblies 45 at opposite sides of the `centrai-'axisof the machine. *Each of the assemblies 45comprisesa vcylinder 46 supportedon the base II of Ythe frameand attached by web `4'! to the vends -I5aof plate f5. Theheads -andbases 49 of the cylinders 'may 'be cast integrally with tubular bosses 5i) and 5I to support the guide tubes I4. Each cylinder contains a piston 52 having a tubular rod 53 extending through a suitable packing gland 54 in the cylinder head, the ends of the tube 53 being sweated on the heads 55 and 55 of bolts 5l and 58 connecting the tube with the piston and crosshead assembly. Bolt 58 extends upwardly through a sleeve 59 clamped between the crosshead sections, and through a `centering bushing 60 held between sections 24a and 24h of the upper crosshead. By tightening nut`6I, sleeve 59 is held against the upper end of the piston rod, and the entire head assembly securely :attached 'to the piston rod for movement therewith in opposite directions.

The pistons 52 are operated by fluid pressure supplied from a unit generally indicated at 62 in Fig. 5 and designed especially for the purpose of obtaining the combined advantages of hydraulic or liquid pressure in the cylinders 46, together with the more flexible and accurately controllable `application of that pressure by compressed air lor Yother gas. The unit 62 comprises a pair of cylinders 63 and 64 in tandem arrangement Yand containing pistons 65 and 66 interconnected by rod 6l. The motive piston 65 is of substantially larger area and is operated by compressed air supplied from line 68 through branches 69 and 'I5 connecting with the opposite ends ofthe cylinder, under control of 4a four-way valve TI. At the valve position shown, compressed air is supplied to the inner end of the cylinder through branch I3 and is exhausted from theopposite end through branch 59 to the outlet l2, the air ow'to Vand from the cylinder being reversed by throwing the valve to reverse position. Compressed air may also be supplied from line 68 to the air .motors 25 vthrough the valved branch 'I3 yhaving fa hose connection 'I4'with manifold 15 mounted on the crosshead 25. `From the manifold the-com pressed air is discharged rto the motors through pipes 'I6 and the governors "11.

By virtue of the area differential between pistons 65 and 65, it is possible to developlhigh'liquid 'pressures in cylinder 64 for operating the pistons of the drilling machine proper, using relatively low air .or other gas pressure in cylinder 53. In addition to this feature and the advantage freferred to above with respect to the ilexibility and accuracy of control using air as the primary `pressure source, 'there is the further and particular advantage 'that the relatively low pressure air provides an effective cushion against reactive forces transmitted to the crosshead and pistons of the drilling machine. Thus it is made possible to employ the necessary relatively high liquid pressures in the cylinders 45, and at the `same time to maintain an eiiective cushion in applying 'those pressures, by virtue of the vrelatively low pressure air in cylinder 63; Y

In yorder more clearly to illustrate the connections between the cylinders 45 andthe pressure supply cylinder 64, the piping between cylinders 46 is shown somewhat diagrammatically in AFig. 5,

the true arrangement of the pipes, however, being yillustrated in Fig. `2. Pipes 'I8 and -"I9 extending from opposite yends oi the cylinder 64 and'interconnected by a by-pass line 8D, communicate through hoses 8| and -82 with :pipes '83 and 84 which interconnect opposite ends of the cylinders k46, `thus balancing the pressures communicated thereto. The cylinders 'V45 and 64, as Well as -the Vconduits interconnecting them, are completely -lled '-witha suitable fluid, rfor-example, a low viscosity oil, and the relative Ydisplacement volumes of the cylinders are such that travel of the piston 66 throughout its stroke in one direction will cause pistons 52 to travel the full lengths of their corresponding strokes, to advance or retract the drill, as the case may be. rhe rate of advancement or retraction of the head assembly and drill under the influence of pressure applied to the pistons 52, may be closely and variably controlled by manual operation of the valve As previously mentioned, the machine may be adjusted for drilling at any inclination or angle relative to the supporting column I6. In Figs. 1, and 6 of the drawings, the machine is shovm to be adjusted for drilling in different positions. Fig. 1 shows the machine in a normal Vertical position for down drilling with the drill rod chuck 30 carried on the lower end of the drive tube 3| and the head assembly advanced to an intermediate position in its downward movement relative to the frame. It will be observed that by adjustment of the clamp 32 and the pivotal connection at bolt 2|, it is possible to position the machine for drilling at any angle and location about the supporting column ES. Also by virtue of the general flattened or elongated shape of the machine, it is possible to drill close to or directly adjacent the column or other support on which the machine is mounted. Fig; 5 shows the entire machine to be inverted for down drilling, the usual right hand chuck being replaced by a left hand chuck Sila on the lower end of the drive tube 3| opposite from its position in Fig. 1. As will be understood, however, the chuck may be applied to either end of the tube. With the machine thus inverted, it is possible to bring the head closer to the work and also to facilitate changing drill rod sections within limited space beyond the end of the drive tube into which the rod is fed.

We have previously referred to the important feature of mounting the head assembly so as to be invertible on the frame or guides. By removing nuts 6|, theentire assembly including crossheads 24 and 25 and their supported parts, may be lifted from the bolts 58, and the head assembly replaced in inverted drilling position on the bolts 58, the parts then being positioned as shown in Fig. 6. Here the chuck 30, as in Fig. 1, is shown on the extended end of the drive tube 3|. With the head assembly, including the motors and their air connections, in inverted position, it is possible as in Fig. 5 wherein the entire machine is shown inverted, to bring the head close to the surface being drilled (assuming the machine to be drilling toward the chuck) since the chuck here is advanced beyond the head parts and may be moved adjacent the work. As will be apparent, the advantages in facilitating changing of drill rod sections are present here, as in the situation previously observed with reference to Fig. 5.

In the foregoing we have described how the machine may be mounted for adjustment to any drilling angle, on a column or other support oiiset from the drill rod. Under some conditions, and for purposes known to those familiar with the art, it may be desirable to mount the machine on a grout pipe and to drill longitudinally through the pipe. Thus, as illustrated in Fig. 7, instead cf mounting the machine on an offset support, it may be mounted on a stationary grout pipe 88 by securing the base il of the machine frame thereto by suitable connection. As typical, the head 88 of a clamp nut or bushing S0 threaded into the pipe collar 9|, may be screwed down against a plate 92 bolted at 93 to the frame base ange Ila. Plate 92 has a substantially semi-circular opening 94 smaller than but concentric with opening I2 in the frame base.

By tightening the bushing 90, plate 92 and the drilling machine are securely clamped onv the collar 9|, with the drive tube and drill rod |3 in axial alinement with pipe 88 so that the drill may be operated through the pipe.

The variational form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 8, while'generally similar to the rst described form, has certain features that adapt it to lighter weight construction, facility in handling and transportation, and balanced support for the drill rod with relation to the mass of the machine and its pointl of support. In Fig. 8, the machine is shown in its down drilling position, with the crosshead 95 secured by bolts S6 to the tubular rods 9'! of pistons 98 contained in the cylinders 99. Here the cylinders are carried by a transverse support |00 having a pivotally adjustable connection HSI, see Fig. 9, with a clamp |02 which mounts the machine on a horizontally extending pipe |03 or other support. The connection at l, which permits bodily adjustment of the machine for drilling at all various angles and inclinations, comprises a pair of split ring clamp sections |94 held together by bolts |05 and engaging and holding together the adjacent angularly faced annular portions |136 and |21 of the clamp |62 and trunnion |28 on the support I, respectively. The cylinders 99 are received within the recessed ends |09 of the support |60, and are held in place by semi-circular clamps |53 fastened to the support by bolts Opposite ends of the cylinders are interconnected by pipes ||2 and 3, through which operating fluid is controllably delivered to the cylinders as in the first desribed form of the invention.

The drive tube I4 is laterally supported and journaled within both the head 95 and the support |50, and, is extended so that the drill rod chuck ||5 is positioned beyond the support, or above the latter with the machine positioned as shown in Fig. 8. As shown in Fig. l0, the lower end of the drive tube IM extends through and is journaled in ball bearings ||6 and ||1 within a tubular housing I8 contained within an opening ||9 in the crosshead 95. The housing is` held in place by nuts |20 threaded on the upper end of the housing and bringing flange |2| to vbear against the bottom surface of the crosshead. The drive tube is held against longitudinal movement relative to the head, by tightening nut |22 to bring spacer sleeve |23 into engagement with the inner race ring of bearings I6, and the tube flange |24 into engagement with the inner race ring of bearings Suitable packing |3| in the upper and lower ends of the housing 8, excludes dust from the bearings inside the housing. On its lower projecting end the tube carries a gear |25 screwed on the tube with a left hand thread and held in place by nut |22.

Intermediate its ends, the drive tube is guided and journaled Within a tubular housing |26 carried by the support |03, the housing containing a bearing sleeve or liner |21 having end closures |23 and |29 containing packing |3| to prevent dust from reaching the bearing. By thus giving the drive tube bearing support independently of the head S5 and within a stationary part of the frame, it is made possible to extend the tube and to position the chuck ||5 toward the end of the i machine opposite the crosshead. An important advantage is gained in that a greater distribution of lateral forces and vibrations'from the drill -rovd orrdrivetubeis `.eiected longitudinally ofthe machine, thereby Aaffording 4better balance against .thoseorces-and Aless tendency-Ourthe part-of .the machine -to turn about its support under lateral reactive :forces `transmitted lthrough'thedrll rod. Whenrusing drill rods of small diameter as compared with the internal diameter -of the drive tube I I4, it may -befdesirable to guide and laterally Support `the rod Within the lower-end of the tube-asfby means of a lbushing |40, Vsee Fig. 10, threaded or otherwise inserted in the end of the tube.

The ldrill is powered by'a single air motor |32 .carried on the head 05 at a position opposite A fromits transverse center as illustrated in Fig. 11. The 'motor is received Within a semi-cylindric section |33 Welded or otherwise secured to the yhead :95, and the motor Yis held in'position by an outer -semi-cylindric clamp section Y|34 carrying lugs 1| 35 bolted to corresponding lugs |36 -onthe inner section. Gear :|31 -carried fon the motor shaft, :meshes with gear |25 to lrotate the drive tube H4. Compressed air is delivered .to the motor througha valve controlledline |38,simi lar -to that previously described.

It is believed 'that lthe yoperation of the ldrill will be apparent from -the foregoing. Selective communicationof the operating fluid pressure to the endsof the cylinders through lines l |2 and f|1|3,acts to advance or retract the 4crosshead flzarid the -parts carried thereby with relation :to

thecylinders and stationarysupport |00. The drive :tube |04 of -course 'moves longitudinally through the :stationary bearing A|2'| Within the r.

range of :movement of the lhead end of the ma- Chine.

It is ttolbe understood -that Whileeat least in certain ofthe'claimsreference is-made Ato parts of the machine as being verticallygpositioned -or to have vertical movement,'such terminology-isused 4and cylinder assemblies at opposite 4sides-of said center for controllably actuating the-head in :its said vertical movement, and apair of motors-,car-

riedJoy the head at opposite sides of said drillfrotating means .and drivngly vconnected .thereto.

.-2. In a ydrilling machine -of the character described, ;a vertically extending frame comprising -a pair of guides, a head movable rverticallyson said guides relative to the frame, Adrill rotating means .carried by the head at the-center of'said framefa pairof piston and cylinder :assemblies .at opposite sides of said center iforncontrollably -ac- 'tuating the y.head in its said vertical movement,

a Vgear Ycarried by said -drill rotating means, Aa

pair of air motors mounted on the head atopposite sides of said drill rotating fmeans, and .a jpair of gears driven by vsaid motors and Ameshing with .the frst mentioned gear.

CARL J. ANDERSON. ROMAYNE .HARALDSGN 

